|
(Brisbane & Adelaide) (previously the SMACC Unit) |
4th floor AMP Place, 10 Eagle St Brisbane Qld 4000.
Facsimile: 07 3223 8722.
Bob Connolly |
07 3223 8325 |
(Manager, Brisbane) |
Dr Bev Grehan |
07 3223 8376 |
Maureen Anderson |
08 8290 0365 |
(Manager, Adelaide) |
Dr Jon Kelley |
07 3223 8412 |
Duncan Cape |
07 3223 8757 |
Sue Lee |
08 8290 0227 |
|
Gaynor Cavanagh |
07 3223 8331 |
Bernadette McCabe |
07 3223 8393 |
SOP BULLETIN
# 25
21 July 1999
ICD10 CODES IN RMA SOPS
What's happening ?
For all Instruments (i.e. SOPs) issued from 1st July 1999, the RMA will include codes from the ICD-10-AM disease classification system as part of the SOP heading and as part of the SOP disease definition in place of the ICD-9-CM codes which, until now, have been included in their Instruments.
This means that all new SOPs, SOP Revocations and SOP Amendments issued after that date will contain ICD10 codes and will not contain ICD9 codes.
The RMA does not intend to revise all of the existing SOPs in order to replace their ICD9 codes with ICD10 codes. However, as SOPs are progressively reviewed and replaced or amended, over time, the number of SOPs which refer to the newer disease classification system will gradually increase.
What are ICD codes ?
'ICD' refers to The International Classification of Diseases and injuries coding system. The classification system applies a unique code to each known disease and injury. Each of the diseases and injuries appearing in the Classification attracts a numeric code under ICD9 and a combination of alpha and numeric code under ICD10. The ICD-9-CM system which has been around since 1975, contains 17 disease 'groups'. The newer ICD-10-AM system contains 21 disease 'groups'.
The ICD codes are designed for use by health information managers within hospitals to provide management information. DVA began routinely recording ICD codes for each disability determined, with the introduction of CCPS in 1994. The codes are used by DVA to identify veteran disease and determination outcomes and trends and are used by CCPS as an integral link between claim, diagnosis and SOP Rulebase.
From 1 July 1999, recording of mortality and morbidity in Australia will be done using ICD10. Commencing from that date, because DVA's recorded ICD information to date is based on ICD9, it will become increasingly difficult to reliably compare disease rates in veterans with those in civilians. Continuing to use ICD9 will also cause problems for DVA when communicating with external health providers.
It has therefore been decided to convert DVA's recorded ICD information to ICD10 and to upgrade CCPS so that, in future, ICD10 codes only will be used.
How will the use of ICD10 codes in SOPs affect disability claim processing ?
The decision by the RMA to apply ICD10 codes to SOPs issued after 1st July 1999 will have no operational effect on disability claim processing.
CCPS users will continue to select diagnoses by using the CCPS ICD Encoder which will continue, for the present, to display ICD9 codes. Until conversion of ICD9 data in CCPS and on the Client Database is completed (see below) the Encoder will continue to apply ICD9 codes to all diagnoses, even those that are covered by SOPs which contain ICD10 codes.
The links between the claim diagnoses and the SOP and non-SOP Rulebases will be maintained in CCPS in the same way as they are at present. The Decision Support Unit will provide the equivalent ICD9 codes for any ICD10 codes which appear in RMA SOPs and ensure that the correct Rulebases are linked with those SOPs.
When will DVA be converting from ICD9 to ICD10 ?
Planning has commenced for the conversion of ICD9 data in CCPS and on the Client Database. Implementation of that conversion may take 6 to 12 months.
When that conversion is completed, the CCPS ICD Encoder will function in the same manner as it does now except that it will contain ICD10 codes instead of ICD9 codes.
If you are having any problems with ICD codes in SOPs or in CCPS, or if you have any questions about the information contained in this Bulletin, remember, Duncan Cape is only an e-mail or a 'phone call (07 3223 8757) away !